MoD unveils draft to revamp defence acquisition procedure, focuses on self-reliance
The proposed draft ensures categorisation and procurement strategy based on technological availability and manufacturing readiness
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released a formal draft to revamp Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP). The draft aims to propel jointness, self-reliance, force modernisation, and speed up the acquisition process while scaling up production by the domestic industry.
The proposed draft aligns India’s defence acquisition with the rapidly evolving geo-strategic landscape, growth of the Indian economy, skilling of human capital, growth of the private defence industry, and technological imperatives of modern warfare, MoD said, seeking comments from industry stakeholders.
Once approved, it will replace the existing Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020. DAP, a cornerstone for ‘self-reliance’ in defence, focuses on institutionalised preference for domestic manufacturing and effective reduction of imports.
The proposed draft ensures categorisation and procurement strategy based on technological availability and manufacturing readiness, exclusive procedures for faster acquisition of equipment with short technological cycles, designing and procurement of major platforms, exploitation of modern technology, and pragmatic evaluation of indigenous content (IC) and indigenous design content.
The new DAP proposes easing financial and experience criteria for inclusive participation, delegating decision-making for quicker acquisition, revamping trials and quality assurance processes, and aggressively infusing digitisation and automation in acquisition procedures.
MoD said DAP would boost defence manufacturing and exports, restricting imports to only critical equipment. The draft DAP-2026 document, including the ‘Handbook on Guidelines & Annexures’, has been uploaded on the MoD website.
